ethics
10-03-2004, 11:19 PM
In US that is.
Please keep in mind this topic (http://www.globalaffairs.org/forum/showthread.php?t=26981) when reviewing this list.
The prestigious schools listed here (http://encarta.msn.com/college_article_tentoughestschools/the_most_competitive_admissions.html?GT1=5472) admit only top-of-the-line students, the cream of the academic crop. Here's what to expect if you have what it takes to gain entrance to their hallowed halls.
I'll only list the first three here:
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
If you're talented (and lucky) enough to get in, research heavyweight MIT "is the ultimate academic powerhouse," its students brag. MIT is the type of place where "almost everyone, including the teachers, loves to learn for the sake of learning, and you end up loving MIT for what it gives you while hating it for the work you have to do to succeed." Sure, "it's hard to get into and hard to stay in," but the rewards for all the difficult work include "professors who are just as eager to teach in their field as they are to research in it." The overarching spirit of MIT is one of cooperation. As one student puts it, "If you are willing to put in the work, there is always a way to get enough help to complete all assignments." Undergraduates appreciate how "The name 'MIT' opens many doors for internships and full-time jobs." They also love that first semester freshmen are graded pass/no record in all their classes.
2. Princeton University
Applicants face daunting competition in gaining entrance to Princeton University, arguably the most undergraduate-friendly member of the Ivy League. Other institutions at a similar level of prestige often promote their powerful professional schools in business, law, and/or medicine, but not Princeton. Here, the focus is on the college student. "The lack of a large graduate school at Princeton allows professors to focus more on the undergraduate population, which is a significant contrast to other top schools in the nation." Students rate professors from "stars of academia" to "unknowns who are there because they are great at teaching." The students surveyed here are consistently among the nation's most satisfied with their overall academic experience. A sophomore sums it up as "my dream come true."
3. California Institute of Technology
The select students who get into Caltech arrive at the school knowing what to expect--namely, academic boot camp--and few graduate disappointed. The school's "grueling" demands "prepare students to face far more challenges than they ever thought possible." The school operates on the quarter system, which means "classes go by quickly." Warns one student, "Stay on top of things because before you know it, it's midterms. Then finals. Rinse and repeat two times. Then you have a complete school year." Another admits, "The system works, I guess, but there is a lot (and I do mean a lot) of homework involved."
Please keep in mind this topic (http://www.globalaffairs.org/forum/showthread.php?t=26981) when reviewing this list.
The prestigious schools listed here (http://encarta.msn.com/college_article_tentoughestschools/the_most_competitive_admissions.html?GT1=5472) admit only top-of-the-line students, the cream of the academic crop. Here's what to expect if you have what it takes to gain entrance to their hallowed halls.
I'll only list the first three here:
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
If you're talented (and lucky) enough to get in, research heavyweight MIT "is the ultimate academic powerhouse," its students brag. MIT is the type of place where "almost everyone, including the teachers, loves to learn for the sake of learning, and you end up loving MIT for what it gives you while hating it for the work you have to do to succeed." Sure, "it's hard to get into and hard to stay in," but the rewards for all the difficult work include "professors who are just as eager to teach in their field as they are to research in it." The overarching spirit of MIT is one of cooperation. As one student puts it, "If you are willing to put in the work, there is always a way to get enough help to complete all assignments." Undergraduates appreciate how "The name 'MIT' opens many doors for internships and full-time jobs." They also love that first semester freshmen are graded pass/no record in all their classes.
2. Princeton University
Applicants face daunting competition in gaining entrance to Princeton University, arguably the most undergraduate-friendly member of the Ivy League. Other institutions at a similar level of prestige often promote their powerful professional schools in business, law, and/or medicine, but not Princeton. Here, the focus is on the college student. "The lack of a large graduate school at Princeton allows professors to focus more on the undergraduate population, which is a significant contrast to other top schools in the nation." Students rate professors from "stars of academia" to "unknowns who are there because they are great at teaching." The students surveyed here are consistently among the nation's most satisfied with their overall academic experience. A sophomore sums it up as "my dream come true."
3. California Institute of Technology
The select students who get into Caltech arrive at the school knowing what to expect--namely, academic boot camp--and few graduate disappointed. The school's "grueling" demands "prepare students to face far more challenges than they ever thought possible." The school operates on the quarter system, which means "classes go by quickly." Warns one student, "Stay on top of things because before you know it, it's midterms. Then finals. Rinse and repeat two times. Then you have a complete school year." Another admits, "The system works, I guess, but there is a lot (and I do mean a lot) of homework involved."